Fireworks display celebrating the end of the Thirty Years War, Nuremberg, 1650 1650

This print depicts a fireworks display in Nuremberg, celebrating the end of the Thirty Years War in 1650. It was made through engraving, a printing process where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Consider how this technique shapes our understanding of the event. The medium allows for precise detail, capturing the spectacle of light and shadow with remarkable clarity. Yet, the very act of engraving—the slow, deliberate carving of lines—transforms the ephemeral nature of fireworks into something permanent and reproducible. The choice of printmaking also speaks to the social context. Prints were a means of mass communication, allowing news and propaganda to be disseminated widely. In this case, the end of a devastating war is commemorated, yet the print also asserts power, transforming a fleeting moment of collective joy into a lasting symbol of authority. What we see, therefore, is not only a celebration, but also a carefully crafted message about peace, order, and control.